Ya Hala

The chicken sandwiches are great!

So I’m back for more and found their pizza off the menu is outstanding! We had the meat monster and the bacon chicken ranch, two thumbs up from us. I just wished they were bigger. Again, I’m in love with the hummus and pita bread this is a must to order even if it’s with pizza!

It was apparent when I entered Ya Hala that I should have gotten the Hala out of the establishment. The entry was disorganized and it was not clear if you were supposed to order at the counter or sit down and be waited on. The fact that it is in what appears to have been a tacky cheeseburger fast food chain establishment confounded the confusion. After a period of time, a young women appeared and asked me if I was ordering take out. I informed her I wished to dine in and experience their Mediterranean cuisine, not the garish looking pizza buffet that was in the front of the restaurant. I was seated.
After an inordinate amount of time, she reappeared to take my order. I ordered the falafel appetizer and the Jordanian special of the house that was a lamb shank with a yogurt based sauce. The menu noted that the entrée came with two sides, I inquired if the salad bar in the restaurant was what came with the entrée as a side. She indicated that it was in fact for the other salads, including the cucumber salad, which I was pleased to hear. I ordered the cucumber salad and a soda pop.
She returned to the table to tell me they were out of the soda pop I had ordered. This is indicative of one of two options: 1. a poorly run establishment that runs out of bag-​in-​a-​box soda by simple mismanagement, or 2. an operation running on a very thin budget that cannot afford to have a simple backup of said bag-​in-​a-​box.
When my food came; it all came at once. Gone are the magical days when someone actually coursed a meal out. It is clearly too much to ask that if you order an appetizer that it come to the table before the entrée. It is a difficult service hurdle to navigate; indeed it appeared very difficult for team Ya Hala. Then there was the food. The falafel did not come with the «homemade pita bread» that it claimed it would on the menu; much more to come on the menu front shortly. The overcooked falafel were mediocre, but the sauce was overpowering and not palatable. The house special dish was undercooked. One would expect a braised lamb shank to be cooked until meltingly tender. Upon first look it was clear that the shank had not been seared properly before being braised and was tough and chewy; upon looking at some other diners plates, it was abundantly clear that the Maillard reaction had never occurred at Ya Hala. The cucumber salad was swimming in a vast amount of dressing and the few actual cucumbers that were in dish had long ago drowned in the sea of dressing. It did have a nice garnish. The sauce that was described as «the good stuff» when it arrived that accompanied the lamb was had broken and ribbons of glistening grease shown through; «the good stuff» was a bit too heavy on the briny flavors for my taste, but perhaps that is the standard. Overall the food was fairly pedestrian and lacked the brilliant flavors one comes to expect from Mediterranean cuisine. The real insult came at the end of the meal.
When I finally went to the counter to find the ever non-​present waitress to settle the tab, she inquired how everything was. I politely told her everything was fine, but in my mind had decided I would never give them the opportunity to disappoint me again. As she rang the bill up, I noticed she included two charges of $ 4.99. I inquired why I was charged the second $ 4.99, to which she replied that I had ordered the cucumber salad. I told her that the menu noted that the entrees came with two sides, one of which was the salad option. When I posited the question as to why I had been charged as it was supposed to be included, she informed me that the cucumber salad was not included; mind you, she is the same waitress who when asked what salads came with the entrée mentioned the cucumber salad. I pointed to the section of the menu with a header that noted «entrees» where below that there was a green box that noted that all entrees came with a choice of two sides, one of which was salad. That entire section, including what I ordered, was surrounded by a green box as is the standard indication on any menu that the items contained within the box are offered for all entrées. Furthermore, it was an item that had been discussed with the waitress previously; the exact same waitress.
Then in a very churlish tone, she informed me that she didn’t write the menu, therefore it was not her fault. Her reasoning was laughable and clearly the behavior of an inept and indifferent worker who cares little for the business where she works and is tragically indicative of the atrocious service levels that are omnipresent in the service industry. I would imagine one could find a more hospitable environment in a Jordanian prison.

Best food + Best service + Best sheesha (Hookah) in OKC!

«I’m at that Pizza Hut!
I’m at that Taco Bell!
I’m at the combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell!»
— Das Racist
Every heard of that song? I think about that song when I think about Ya Hala/​Pizza & More. It just seems so fitting since this looks like an old Pizza Hut, serves a pizza buffet and Mediterranean cuisine. It’s not tacos… but really, Pizza and Mediterranean is a weird combination.
M has decided he want to try baba ganoush at every Mediterranean restaurant we go to now; unfortunately, they didn’t have any. So our second choice was the falafel ($ 5).
We didn’t get our appetizer until our food came 30 min after ordering.
The falafel was fine, the white sauce lacking. M ordered the Kafta entrée ($ 11). Although the kafta was really good, there wasn’t any rice with the plate and the humus was way strong with the tahini and something else. Additionally, I was not a fan of the bread. It was much fluffier than I’m accustomed to having at Mediterranean restaurants. I had ordered the meat pie; it was okay, though a little greasy. The description had me thinking there would be diced veggies on the pie. It was a pizza like dish with ground meat and veggies so that it was all one mixed up mush.
Overall the Mediterranean is sub par. I *may* come again to check out the pizza, but until then…

The chicken and beef shish kabab was really good. Pita bread was fresh and fluffy. Hummus was good too.

Great Food. BEST Mediterranean food in oklahoma. Everything is so fresh and tasty. Great atmosphere and great service. The owners are really nice and know what they’re talking about. You must go.

The best Middle Eastern food I’ve had in Oklahoma City (aside from my dad’s)! I’ve gone there twice and have had their grape leaves, hummus, baba ghounoz, falafel, kufta, gyro, foul, chicken shawarma, cheese pie, meat pie, spinach pie, lebnah, and the kunafa. My family likes to eat! We usually order a mass of food and share everything and it is all so delicious! I have yet been to a restaurant in the metro that serves grape leaves made so fresh and authentic! And the kunafa… my goodness, so custardy and sweet! We ordered a tray of grape leaves and a tray of kunafa for a family event and my family devoured it all. I can not speak highly enough of the owner and his wife, they are such nice people. So, on that note, go to Ya Hala! You will not be disappointed! They also are wonderful about catering to your tastes, if you tell them how you like your food, they will make it the way you like it. Oh! And the Turkish coffee is delicious, as well! Very authentic! If you’re a java junkie, check it out!

This place is a gem. Some of the best Mediterranean food I have had in Oklahoma City. The staff is delightful. I have been here twice in one week.
I did try the meat pie which reminded me of a pizza without cheese and was not impressed with it. However, all of the traditional Mediterranean food was delicious and made from scratch. The hummus is rich with tahini and the cabbage rolls are good with the hot sauce.
My boyfriend had the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, he had the same the second time around. It is the best thing I have tried so far. I tried the falafel sandwich the second time and I enjoyed the veggies that were packed into the homemade pita bread with the falafel. It is an entire pita cut into two halves. I had it cold the next morning and it was still tasty.
I have not tried the pizza here. Who wants pizza with made from scratch Mediterranean food is on the menu?

Great food. Been craving it ever since. The owner came to our table, and seems very proud of the food. Wait staff was lacking but the food made up for it. Ordering some take/​out in a few.

The best Mediterranean restaurant in OKC!
Take my word for it, GO!!!
It is a combined restaurant w/​Mediterranean food, pizza, hookah bar.
We ordered the falafel, hummus, and chicken shawarma. Everything was absolutely delicious and made from scratch — including the pita bread. The pita was light, airy, and fluffy. The hummus was the perfect blend of garlic and olive oil. The falafel had the perfect crunch on the outside and moist in the middle. And, the shawarma will leave your taste buds tantalized! Everything is served with chili paste and the best tahini sauce.
The service was pleasant, and I could tell they take pride in their food.
We will be back!